{"id":2109,"date":"2023-06-19T09:30:55","date_gmt":"2023-06-19T09:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tomgeraghty.co.uk\/?p=2109"},"modified":"2023-06-19T09:30:55","modified_gmt":"2023-06-19T09:30:55","slug":"resilience-and-disaster-response-and-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tomgeraghty.co.uk\/index.php\/resilience-and-disaster-response-and-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Resilience and Disaster Response and Recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"
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  1. Alexander (2013, p.2714) argues \u201cresilience has a bright future ahead of it as an explanatory concept in various allied fields that deal with environmental extremes. However, its success in this respect will depend on not overworking it or expecting that it can provide more insight and greater modeling capacity than it is capable of furnishing.\u201d In the context of DRR, do you agree with this statement? Provide reasons for why\/why not.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Resilience is not a panacea for all the challenges facing DRR. Resilience may be misinterpreted to mean robustness: simply sustaining functions despite challenges, whilst true resilience is \u201c<\/span>The intrinsic ability of a system to adjust its functioning prior to, during, or following changes and disturbances, so that it can sustain required operations under both expected and unexpected conditions.<\/span><\/i>\u201d (Hollnagel et al, 2006) Rather than treat resilience as a model, we must treat resilience as an activity, and make clear the distinction between active resilience and passive robustness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    The scholar Nassim Taleb, in his book \u201cAntifragile\u201d notoriously misinterpreted resilience: \u201c<\/span>Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better.<\/span><\/i>\u201d (Taleb, 2013) It is clearly an easily misinterpreted and misunderstood concept.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Additionally, as Cretney (2014) argues, there is a danger that resilience can become a tool for the perpetuation of inequalities and injustices. We must question for whom resilience is being built and who benefits from it most.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. Given the range of vulnerabilities associated with New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina (2005), as outlined by Laska and Morrow (2006), suggest THREE disaster preparedness measures or initiatives that could serve to reduce some of these vulnerabilities.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      Applying the concept of multi-layer safety (MLS) by Esteban et al, we can highlight three disaster preparedness elements that may have served to reduce some of the vulnerabilities highlighted by Laska and Morrow (2006) are:<\/span><\/p>\n

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      1. Primary layer: Hurricane Katrina highlighted the importance of adequate infrastructure in reducing both the likelihood and the severity of flooding. This includes improved infrastructure, such as stronger levees and better drainage systems, to reduce the likelihood of future floods.<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Secondary layer: During Hurricane Katrina, communication between emergency responders, local officials, and the public was limited, leading to confusion and delays in response. These gaps in emergency response planning demonstrated the need for effective early warning systems. The appropriate measures include developing a comprehensive early warning system and up to date evacuation plans.<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. The Tertiary layer regards recovery and restoration after a disaster. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, better involvement of the local community in planning for a disaster, and responding to it afterwards would improve the effectiveness of recovery programmes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        1. Given the many and varied critiques and limitations of the resilience concept (e.g. as presented in Cretney 2014), why do you think resilience persists as a central element and goal of DRR strategies?<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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          Resilience is about what a system can do \u2014 including its capacity:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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